the earth, and so smelled, that none was able to abide the savour of Mary. him. "Well," quoth Dr. Dracot, "then take this bill, and pro- A.D. nounce him in the pulpit a damned soul, and a twelvemonth after 1555. take up his bones (for then the flesh will be consumed), and cast Glover them over the wall, that carts and horses may tread upon them; and after his then will I come and hallow again that place in the churchyard where judged he was buried." This was recorded by the parson of the town, who told the same to Hugh Burrows, dwelling at Findern in Derbyshire, and to Mr. Robert Glover's wife, by whose credible information we received the same.

death,

to be

damned.

handling

after his

popish

curate of

Not much unlike usage was practised also by these catholic children Manner of of the mother church, upon the body of William the third brother; the body whom after it had pleased Almighty God about the same season to of Glover call out of this vale of misery, the good disposed people of the town death. of Wem, in Shropshire, where he died, brought the body unto the parish church, intending there to have it buried. But one Bernard, Bernard a being then curate of the said church (and yet is, as I hear say, to this day), to stop the burial thereof, rode to the bishop named Wem. Radulph Banes, to certify him of the matter, and to have his advice therein. In the mean time the body lying there a whole day, in the night time one Richard Morice, a tailor, would have interred him. But then came John Thorlyne, of Wem, with others more, and Thorlyne would not suffer the body to be buried; expressing to us the con- the burytrary example of good Tobit, for as he was religious in burying the ing of dead, so this man putteth religion in not burying the dead: so that ver. after he had lain there two days and one night, cometh the foresaid Bernard the curate with the bishop's letter, the contents of which letter, being copied out word for word, here follow.

A Copy of the Bishop's Letter, written to the Parish of Wem.

Understanding that one Glover, a heretic, is dead in the parish of Wem, which Glover hath for all the time of my being in this country been known for a rebel against our holy faith and religion, a contemner of the holy sacraments and ceremonies used in the holy church, and hath separated himself from the holy communion of all good christian men, and never required to be reconciled to our mother holy church, nor in his last days did call for his ghostly father, but died without all rites belonging to a christian man; I thought it good not only to command the curate of Wem, that he should not be buried in Christian-man's burial, but also will and command all the parish of Wem, that no man procure, help, nor speak, to have him buried in holy ground: but I do charge and command the churchwardens of Wem, in special, and all the parish of the same, that they assist the said curate in defending, and letting, and procuring, that he be not buried either in the church, or within the wainables of the church-yard : and likewise I charge those that brought the body to the place, to carry it away again, and that at their charge, as they will answer at their peril.

At Eccleshall, this 6th of September, Anno 1558.

By your ordinary, Radulph Coventry and Lichfield.

against

W. Glo

corpse of

By the virtue of this foresaid letter, so it fell out, that they which brought the corpse thither, were fain at their own charges to carry it The dead back again. But for so much as the body was corrupted, and smelt w.Glover so strongly that scarcely any man might come near it, they were dragged forced to draw it with horses into a broom-field, and there was he fields. buried.

into the

Mary.

The witnesses of the godly end of the said William Glover, dying A.D. in the true faith and confession of Christ, were master Nowell dean 1555. of Lichfield, George Wilestone and his wife, Thomas Constantine, Roger Wydhouse, John Prynne, George Torpelley, etc.

Burton not suf

fered to

in chris

rial, the

Elizabeth

was

See

The like example of charitable affection in these catholic churchmen, is also to be seen and noted in the burying of one master be buried Edward Burton, esq., who, in the same diocese of Chester, departing tian bu out of this world the very day before queen Elizabeth was crowned, day when required of his friends, as they would answer for it, that his body queen should be buried in his parish church (which was St. Chad's in Shrewsbury), so that no mass-monger should be present thereat; which crowned. thing being declared to the curate of that parish, named sir John Appendiz. Marshall, and the body being withal brought to the burial, upon the same day when the queen was crowned, the curate, being therewith offended, said plainly, that he should not be buried in the church there. Whereunto one of his friends, named George Torpelley, answering again, said, that God would judge him in the last day, etc. Then the priest: "Judge God," saith he," or devil; the body shall not come there." And so they buried him in his own garden, where he is no doubt as near the kingdom of heaven, as if he had been buried in the midst of the church.

Oliver Richardine,

Moreover, in the said county of Salop, I find that one Oliver Richardine of the parish of Whitchurch, was burned in Haverfordmartyr. west, sir John Ygone being sheriff the same time, which seemeth to be about the latter year of king Henry the Eighth whose name, because it was not mentioned before, I thought here to give some little touch of him, having now in hand to speak of the persecution within the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield.

The Martyrdom of William Wolsey, and Kobect Pygot Painter.

After the suffering of master Robert Glover and Cornelius Bungey, at Coventry, followeth next the condemnation of other two blessed martyrs, which were judged and condemned at Ely, by John Fuller the bishop's chancellor of Ely, Dr. Shaxton his suffragan, Robert Steward, dean of Ely, John Christopherson, dean of Norwich, October 9th, A.D. 1555; the names of which martyrs were William Wolsey and Robert Pygot, dwelling both in the town of Wisbeach, which William Wolsey being a constable, dwelling and inhabiting in the town of Wells, was there brought to death by the means and Everard procurement of one Richard Everard, gentleman, a justice appointed for those days, who extremely handled the same William Wolsey, Wolsey. and bound him to the good abearing, causing him to put in sureties upon his good behaviour, until the next general sessions holden within the isle of Ely and so the said Wolsey, being dispatched of his office, and brought in trouble, removed his house and dwelling place, Wolsey coming to dwell in the town of Wisbeach. Then being called again manded at the next sessions, he was still constrained to put in new sureties, which at the length he refused to do, and so was commanded to the jail at the assizes holden at Ely in Lent.

extreme

against

com

to the

jail.

In the Easter week following, there repaired to confer with him,

Fuller,

pherson,

Dr. Fuller the chancellor, with Christopherson, and one Dr. Young, Mary. who laid earnestly to his charge that he was out of the catholic faith, A.D. willing him to meddle no further with the Scriptures, than it did be- 1555. come such a layman as he was to do. The said William Wolsey standing still a great while, suffering them to say their pleasures, at Christothe last answered in this wise: "Good master doctor, what did our and Saviour Christ mean, when he spake these words, written in the 23d Young chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, Wo be unto you scribes and Phari- with him. sees, ye hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven before men: teth a ye yourselves go not in, neither suffer ye them that come to enter in.' Yea," saith Dr. Fuller, "you must understand, that Christ spake to the scribes and Pharisees.'

confer

He put

""" question

to them.

"Nay, master doctor," saith Wolsey, "Christ spake even to you, and your fellows here present, and to all other such like as you be." Away, master doctor," said Christopherson, " for you can do no good with this man.” Yet," saith Dr. Fuller, "I will leave thee a book to read, I promise thee, of a learned man's doing;" that is to see. say, of Dr. Watson's doing, who was then bishop of Lincoln.

66

Appendix.

Wolsey, receiving the same book, did diligently read it over, which Fuller in many places did manifestly appear contrary to the known truth of sorteth to God's word. At the length, a fortnight or three weeks following, the Wolsey. said Dr. Fuller, resorting again to the prison-house to confer with the said Wolsey, did ask him how he did like the said book (thinking that he had won him by the reading of the same): who answered him and said, "Sir, I like the book no otherwise than I thought before I should find it." Whereupon the chancellor taking his book, departed home.

At night, when Dr. Fuller came to his chamber to look on it, he did find in many places, contrary to his mind, the book rased with a pen by the said Wolsey. The which he seeing, and being vexed therewith, said, "Oh! this is an obstinate heretic, and hath quite marred my book."

66

cellor

him leave

to depart.

Then the assizes holden at Wisbeach drawing nigh, Dr. Fuller The chancometh again to the said Wolsey, and speaketh unto him on this giveth manner : "Thou dost much trouble my conscience; wherefore I pray thee depart, and rule thy tongue, so that I hear no more complaint of thee; and come to the church when thou wilt, and if thou be complained upon, so far as I may, I promise thee I will not hear of it."

"Master doctor," quoth Wolsey, "I was brought hither by a law; and by a law I will be delivered."

laid in the

Then, being brought to the sessions before named, Wolsey was Wolsey laid in the castle at Wisbeach, thinking to him and all his friends, castle of that he should have suffered there at that present time; but it Wisproved nothing so.

beach.

Then Robert Pygot the painter, being at liberty, was there pre- Pygot presented by some evil-disposed persons (sworn men, as they called sented for them), for not coming to the church.

not coming to

church.

ment

The said Pygot being called in the sessions, would not absent him- sir Cleself, but there did plainly appear before sir Clement Higham being Higham. judge, who said unto him; "Ah! are you the holy father the painter ?

(1) Dr. Watson's Book of Sermons or Homilies.

Mary. How chance ye came not to the church?" "Sir," quoth the painter, I am not out of the church, I trust in God."

A. D. 1555.

"No, sir," said the judge: "this is no church; this is a hall." "Yea, sir," said Pygot, "I know very well it is a hall: but he that is in the true faith of Jesus Christ, is never absent, but present in the church of God."

66

66

Ah, sirrah!" said the judge," you are too high learned for me to talk withal; wherefore I will send you to them that be better learned than I;" straightways commanding him to the jail where Wolsey lay. So the sessions being broken up and ended, the said brought to Wolsey and Pygot were carried again to Ely into prison, where they both did remain till the day of their death.

Pygot

the jail.

The

bishop's

man, con

the pri

In the mean time certain of their neighbours of Wisbeach aforesaid, being at Ely, came to see how they did. There came thither also a chaplain, chaplain of bishop Goodrike's, a Frenchman born, one Peter Valena French- tius, who said unto the said Wolsey and Pygot, "My brethren, firmeth according to mine office, I am come to talk with you, for I have been soners in almoner here these twenty years and above. Wherefore I must the truth. desire you, my brethren, to take it in good part that I am come to talk with you. I promise you, not to pull you from your faith; but I both require and desire in the name of Jesus Christ, that you stand to the truth of the gospel and word; and I beseech the Almighty God, for his son Jesus Christ's sake, to preserve both you and me in the same unto the end. For I know not myself, my brethren, how soon I shall be at the same point that you now are." Thus, with many other like words, he made an end, causing all that were there present to water their cheeks, contrary to all the hope they had in him; God be praised therefore.

Pygot and
Wolsey

in the

tory.

Then within short time after, Pygot and Wolsey were called to called to judgment about the 9th day of October, before Dr. Fuller then judgment chancellor, with old Dr. Shaxton, Christopherson, and others in comconsis mission, who laid earnestly to their charge for their belief in divers articles, but especially of the sacrament of the altar. Whereunto their answer was, that the sacrament of the altar was an idol, and that the natural body and blood of Christ were not present really in the said sacrament; and to this opinion they said they would stick, believing perfectly the same to be no heresy that they had affirmed, but the very truth, whereupon they would stand. Then said the doctors, that they were out of the catholic faith.

The

words of Shaxton to the

Then Dr. Shaxton said unto them, "Good brethren, remember yourselves, and become new men, for I myself was in this fond opinion that you are now in, but I am now become a new man." Wolsey's Ah," said Wolsey, "are you become a new man? Wo be to thee, thou wicked new man, for God shall justly judge thee."

martyrs.

answer.

66

Dr. Fuller then spake, saying, "This Wolsey is an obstinate fellow, and one that I could never do good upon. But as for the painter, he is a man quiet and indifferent (as far as I perceive), and is soon reformed, and may very well be delivered for any evil opinion I find in him."

Then Christopherson called for pen and ink, and wrote these words following: "I, Robert Pygot, do believe, that after the words of consecration spoken by the priest, there remaineth no more bread

and wine, but the very body and blood of Christ really and substan- Mary. tially, the selfsame that was born of the Virgin Mary ;" and reading A. D. it to the painter he said thus, "Dost thou believe all this according 1555. as it written ?”

fuseth to

"No, sir," said the painter, "that is your faith, and not mine." Christopherson:"Lo, master Dr. Fuller, you would have let Pygot rethis fellow go; he is as much a heretic as the other." And so im- subscribe mediately judgment was given upon them to die: which done, after to it. the sentence read, they were sent again to the prison, where they did lie till the day of their death. At which day, one Peacock, bachelor Peacock of divinity, being appointed to preach, took his text out of the First appointed Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, chapter v., of one that had at the lived inordinately, by abusing his father's wife; likening the said of Wolsey Pygot and Wolsey to the same man, oftentimes saying, that such Pygot. members must be cut off from the congregation; most maliciously reporting the said Wolsey to be clean out of the faith, and in many places quite denying the Scripture.

So, his sermon being ended, the forenamed Pygot and Wolsey being brought to the place of execution, and so bound to the stake with a chain, thither cometh one sir Richard Collinson a priest, at that time destitute of any biding-place or stay of benefice, who said unto Wolsey, "Brother Wolsey, the preacher hath openly reported in his sermon this day, that you are quite out of the catholic faith, and deny baptism, and that you do err in the holy Scripture: wherefore I beseech you, for the certifying of my conscience, with others here present, that you declare in what place of the Scripture you do err or find fault."

to preach

burning

and

sound in

ture be

his salva

Wolsey:-"I take the eternal and everlasting God to witness, Wolsey that I do err in no part or point of God's book, the holy Bible, but all points hold and believe in the same to be most firm and sound doctrine in of Scripall points most worthy for my salvation, and for all other Christians, longing to to the end of the world. Whatsoever mine adversaries report by tion. me, God forgive them there-for." With that cometh one to the fire with a great sheet knit full of books to burn, like as they had been Books New Testaments. "Oh," said Wolsey, "give me one of them;" with Woland Pygot desired another; both of them clapping them close to sey and their breasts, saying Psalm cvi., desiring all the people to say amen; and so received the fire most thankfully. The witnesses and informers hereof, were, Robert Scortred, Robert Crane, Edward Story, Robert Kendall, Richard Best, etc.

"burned

Concerning the story of William Wolsey, I received moreover, from the University of Cambridge, by a credible person and my faithful friend, William Fulke, this relation which I thought in this place not unmeet to be notified unto the reader, in order and form as followeth.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF WOLSEY AND PYGOT.

Pygot.

described

There were burned at Ely two godly martyrs, the one called Wolsey, the Wolsey other Pygot. In these two appeared divers opinions of one spirit. Pygot was and Pygot mild, humble, and modest, promising that he would be conformable to his persecutors, if they could persuade him by the Scripture. The other (Wolsey) was stout, strong, and vehement, as one having Anpopopíav of the Spirit, and detested all their doings, as of whom he was sure to receive nothing but cruelty